Modular privacy fence with individually replaceable pickets

Abstract

A modular privacy fence, which includes a stringer having two rails, wherein at least the first rail comprises a plurality of fence picket dividers that protrude in a perpendicular direction from the first rail. The modular privacy fence also includes a fastener attached to the end of the stringer, wherein the fastener is arranged to secure the stringer to a fence post, and a bottom rail with a trough. In some embodiments, the second rail may also include a separate plurality of fence picket dividers that protrude from the second rail in a direction perpendicular to the second rail and parallel to the first plurality of fence picket dividers. In such arrangements, the first plurality of fence picket dividers is offset from the second plurality of fence picket dividers in a direction parallel to the first rail.

I claim: 
     
       1. A modular privacy fence, comprising:
 a first rail comprising a first plurality of fence picket dividers that protrude in a perpendicular direction from the first rail,
 wherein each of the first plurality of fence picket dividers comprises a T-shaped cross-section extending in the perpendicular direction from the first rail, wherein a top portion of the T-shaped cross section is parallel to the first rail, and the T-shaped cross-section extends from the first rail a distance that would allow a fence picket to be inserted between two fence picket dividers of the first plurality of fence picket dividers and the top portion of each of the two picket dividers would hold the fence picket in place; 
 
 a second rail comprising a second plurality of fence picket dividers that protrude from the second rail in a direction perpendicular to the second rail; 
 a fastener configured to secure the first rail and the second rail to a fence post, wherein the fastener comprises a compressive fastener that connects the first rail with the second rail, wherein closing the compressive fastener decreases the distance between the first rail and the second rail such that the distal end of a first picket divider of the first plurality of fence picket dividers overlaps the distal end of a second picket divider of the second plurality of fence picket dividers; and 
 a bottom rail having a trough, wherein the bottom rail is positioned at a first end of the fence post, and wherein the first rail and the second rail are positioned substantially near a second end of the fence post, wherein the second end is opposite the first end of the fence post. 
 
     
     
       2. The modular privacy fence of  claim 1 , wherein a pair of adjacent fence picket dividers of the first plurality of fence picket dividers is spaced apart by substantially the same width as a fence picket. 
     
     
       3. The modular privacy fence of  claim 1 , wherein a pair of adjacent fence picket dividers of the first plurality of fence picket dividers forms a picket spacer. 
     
     
       4. The modular privacy fence of  claim 1 , wherein each of the second plurality of fence picket dividers comprise a T-shaped cross-section extending in the direction perpendicular to the second rail, wherein a top portion of the T-shaped cross section is parallel to the second rail, and the T-shaped cross-section extends from the second rail a distance that would allow a fence picket to be inserted between two fence picket dividers of the second plurality of fence picket dividers and the top portion of each of the two picket dividers would hold the fence picket in place. 
     
     
       5. The modular privacy fence of  claim 4 , wherein the top portion of each of the first plurality of fence picket dividers and the top portion of each of the second plurality of fence picket dividers line up. 
     
     
       6. A modular privacy fence, comprising:
 a plurality of fence pickets; 
 a stringer having a first rail and a second rail, the first rail comprising a first plurality of fence picket dividers that protrude inwardly from the first rail in a direction perpendicular to the first rail, the second rail comprising a second plurality of fence picket dividers that protrude inwardly from the second rail in a direction perpendicular to the second rail and parallel to the first plurality of fence picket dividers, wherein the first plurality of fence picket dividers is offset from the second plurality of fence picket dividers in a direction parallel to the first rail, wherein a pair of adjacent picket dividers is spaced apart by substantially the same width as a fence picket, and wherein each of the first plurality of fence picket dividers comprises a T-shaped cross-section extending in the perpendicular direction from the first rail, wherein a top portion of the T-shaped cross section is parallel to the first rail, and the T-shaped cross-section extends from the first rail a distance that would allow a fence picket to be inserted between two fence picket dividers of the first plurality of fence picket dividers and the top portion of each of the two picket dividers would hold the fence picket in place; 
 a bottom rail having a trough, wherein the bottom rail is positioned at a first end of the plurality of fence pickets, wherein the stringer having the first rail and the second rail is positioned substantially near a second end of the plurality of the fence pickets, and wherein the second end is opposite to the first end of the plurality of fence pickets; 
 a bolt inserted through a first slot in the first rail and inserted through a second slot in the second rail; and 
 a nut threaded to match the bolt, wherein tightening of the nut with respect to the bolt decreases the distance between the first rail and the second rail such that a securing picket divider of the first plurality of fence picket dividers overlaps opposing adjacent picket dividers of the second plurality of fence picket dividers. 
 
     
     
       7. The modular privacy fence of  claim 6 , wherein the bottom rail comprises a plurality of drain holes. 
     
     
       8. The modular privacy fence of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a circumferential bracket having a first slotted end and a second slotted end, wherein the circumferential bracket is configured to connect the stringer to a fence post via the bolt. 
 
     
     
       9. The modular privacy fence of  claim 6 , wherein each of the second plurality of fence picket dividers comprise a T-shaped cross-section extending in the direction perpendicular to the second rail, wherein a top portion of the T-shaped cross section is parallel to the second rail, and the T-shaped cross-section extends from the second rail a distance that would allow a fence picket to be inserted between two fence picket dividers of the second plurality of fence picket dividers and the top portion of each of the two picket dividers would hold the fence picket in place. 
     
     
       10. The modular privacy fence of  claim 9 , wherein the top portion of each of the first plurality of fence picket dividers and the top portion of each of the second plurality of fence picket dividers line up. 
     
     
       11. A modular privacy fence, comprising:
 a first post; 
 a second post separated from the first post, wherein the second post is parallel to the first post; 
 a transverse stringer attached to the first post and the second post, wherein the stringer comprises a first rail and a second rail forming a plurality of slots arranged in two rows, wherein each slot of the plurality of slots is formed by T-shaped cross-section dividers extending in the perpendicular direction from the first rail, wherein top portions of the T-shaped cross section picket dividers are parallel to the first rail; 
 a bottom rail attached to the first post and the second post, wherein the bottom rail comprises a trough wherein the bottom rail is positioned at a first location of the first post and at a first location of the second post, wherein the first rail and the second rail are positioned at a second location of the first post spaced apart from the first location of the first post and at a second location of the second post spaced apart from the first location of the second post; 
 a first row of vertical fence pickets that intersect the stringer via the first row of slots in the plurality of slots, wherein the bottom ends of said pickets rest within the trough of the bottom rail; 
 a second row of vertical fence pickets that intersect the stringer via the second row of slots in the plurality of slots, wherein the bottom ends of said pickets rest within the trough of the bottom rail, and wherein the first row of vertical fence pickets and the second row of vertical fence pickets form a plurality of vertical fence pickets; and 
 a fastener that connects the first rail to the second rail, wherein the decompression of the fastener with respect to the transverse stringer permits a fence picket of the plurality of vertical fence pickets to be slidably inserted into a slot of the plurality of slots, and wherein the compression of the fastener with respect to the transverse stringer prevents the fence picket of the plurality of vertical fence pickets from being removed from the stringer. 
 
     
     
       12. The modular privacy fence of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener is a bolt that is inserted through a first slot in the first rail and a second slot in the second rail and secured with a nut. 
     
     
       13. The modular privacy fence of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of slots is arranged in two staggered rows.